Consultant Social Worker

North East Jobs; Gateshead; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading council in Gateshead as a Consultant Social Worker, where you will manage a caseload and supervise social work practitioners. This role focuses on safeguarding and care planning, ensuring high standards of practice for children and families. With a commitment to diversity and inclusion, Gateshead Council offers excellent employee benefits and opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

28 days annual leave

Excellent training and development opportunities

Discounted annual passes

Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme

Staff discounts via employee portal

Qualifications

• Significant experience in statutory child-care social work.
• Recognized social work qualification and registration with Social Work England.

Responsibilities

• Hold a manageable caseload to supervise practice among social work practitioners.
• Ensure high standards of practice in accordance with legislation and policies.

Skills

Planning

Risk Management

Analysis

Intervention Delivery

Education

SW Degree

CQSW

Dip SW

CSS

Job description

Job Opportunity: Consultant Social Worker

At Gateshead, our vision is that all children and families, regardless of their background, are at the heart of everything we do—ensuring all children can thrive and meet their full potential.

Our plans for 2025 reflect this vision and ambition! Do you want to be part of our award-winning, ambitious, and innovative teams?

Safeguarding and Care Planning Team

Within Safeguarding and Care Planning, we believe in strength-based and relational social work, addressing behaviors linked to adult and childhood trauma and compromised child/parental relationships. The team manages cases where children are on a child protection plan, subject to proceedings (including LBP), or are Looked After under section 20 of the Children Act 1989. Some Child in Need (CiN) cases remain within the service based on established relationships.

Role Overview

We are currently recruiting for a Consultant Social Worker. You will hold a manageable caseload, typically half of a full caseload, to facilitate supervision of practice and decision-making among social work practitioners, ensuring high standards of practice in accordance with legislation, regulations, policies, and procedures.

Candidate Requirements

• Significant experience in statutory child-care social work within a multidisciplinary context.
• Knowledge of statutory and organizational frameworks, corporate parenting, and government policies.
• Skills in planning and delivering interventions with complex families, analyzing situations, and managing risks.
• Experience responding to issues of separation and loss for children and young people.
• Sound understanding of social work legislation, assessment, methodologies, and systemic approaches.
• Knowledge of child development and factors affecting growth.
• Recognized social work qualification (e.g., SW Degree, CQSW, Dip SW, CSS) and registration with Social Work England.
• Progressed to Level 3; Practice Educator Level 2 (or willing to work towards it).
• Current driving license and access to a vehicle or mobility support.

About Gateshead Council

We believe that ‘The strength of Gateshead is the people of Gateshead’. We work tirelessly to serve our communities, prioritizing children, families, and young people in our care. Our ambition is to deliver high-quality services, aiming to become ‘Outstanding’ as rated by Ofsted.

We embrace diversity, culture, and heritage, focusing on reducing inequalities to make Gateshead inclusive for everyone.

Employee Benefits

• 28 days annual leave, increasing to 30 days after 5 years, with options to purchase extra leave.
• Excellent training and development opportunities.
• Accessible transport links, discounted annual passes, and access to pool cars and cycle schemes.
• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Staff discounts via our employee portal.

During the selection process, candidates will be assessed against the essential criteria outlined in the job profile. For more information, please visit Careers in Children's Social Work - Gateshead Council.

If successful, you will be required to apply for an enhanced disclosure.